Half-Time Report: Midfield battle at St James' Park

Chances were few and far between in the opening half between Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers at St James' Park this afternoon.

© PA Photos

Some of the home fans thought that Newcastle had taken the lead in the seventh minute but Papiss Cisse's back-post header only hit the sidenetting.

QPR made plenty of running down either wing in the opening period but the crosses were well dealt with by the Magpies' backline.

Newcastle ended the half the stronger and she Senegalese duo of Cisse and Demba Ba combined 10 minutes before the interval but Cisse was denied a clear shooting chance by the sprawling Fabio da Silva.